Darlene Love, Lisa Fischer, Judith Hill,Tata Vega, Merry Clayton … all voices you've heard and know but probably wouldn't recognize them on the street. They are background singers that are the focus of a new film, 20 Feet From Stardom, released over the July 4th weekend.
Darlene Love, perhaps the best known, was the "voice" on the #1 Rock and Roll hit He's a Rebel. That song was produced by Phil Spector (yep, that Phil Spector) who credited it to The Crystals who had never heard the song. More recently Darlene has appeared for more than 25 years running to sing Christmas on Late Night with David Letterman.
You might know Merry Clayton as a background singer for the Rolling Stones on Gimmie Shelter with that iconic wail "It's just a shot away … ". Judith Hill worked with Michael Jackson up until his death. And Lisa Fischer who toured with the Stones and Tina Turner.
This is a nice, enjoyable film which probably won't be playing where you can catch World War Z or Monster U. You'll need to look for it at a smaller neighborhood theater that specializes in indy and smaller release films. Make the effort. If you love music run, don't walk to see it.
"He's a rebel and he'll never ever be any good/He's a rebel 'cause he never ever does what he should/Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does/That's no reason why we can't share a love"